Clarkson is an unincorporated community in southwestern Middleton Township, Columbiana County, Ohio, United States, clustered around the intersection of Clarkson and Sprucevale roads. For most of the 19th century, until the founding of Negley and Rogers, Clarkson was the most prominent settlement in Middleton Township.

Clarkson, Ohio
Clarkson, looking south towards Clarkson Presbyterian Church
Clarkson, looking south towards Clarkson Presbyterian Church
Clarkson is located in Ohio
Clarkson
Clarkson
Clarkson is located in the United States
Clarkson
Clarkson
Coordinates: 40°44′49″N 80°36′48″W / 40.74694°N 80.61333°W / 40.74694; -80.61333
CountryUnited States
StateOhio
CountyColumbiana
TownshipMiddleton
Elevation1,181 ft (360 m)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
44455
Area code(s)330, 234
GNIS Feature ID1056809[1]

History edit

Clarkson was platted in February 1816 by Robert Hanna, who moved there in a conestoga wagon with his wife.[2][3] It was surveyed by William Heald. Hanna built and resided in a log tavern at the intersection of two roads. This building was later known as the Edward McGinnis tavern.[4][5][6]

In 1817, James Monroe, while President of the United States, visited his cousin, Catherine Hanna, in Clarkson.[6] A post office was established in Clarkson in 1833 and remained until 1935.[7] By 1879, Clarkson had two churches, three stores, and about 30 houses.[3]

An early settler and businessman was Milo Warrick who, in 1840, was a cabinet maker and undertaker in Clarkson. His son, Clement Vlandingham Warrick, opened a general store in Clarkson in 1885. He established the first Standard Oil dealership in Ohio, holding vendor's license Number 1.[4][8]

Bank robber Pretty Boy Floyd was shot and killed by FBI agents in a corn field near Clarkson in 1934.[9][10]

Geography edit

The majority of residences are clustered at the intersection of Clarkson and Sprucevale Roads (County Highways 426 and 428).

Local attractions edit

Gaston's Mill, named for Clarkson resident Philander Gaston, lies within Beaver Creek State Park. The mill was built in 1837 and has been restored.[11]


Notable people edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Clarkson, Ohio
  2. ^ McCord, William B. (1905). History of Columbiana County, Ohio and Representative Citizens. Biographical Publishing Company. p. 303.
  3. ^ a b Mack, Horace (1879). History of Columbiana County, Ohio: With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers. Unigraphic. p. 198.
  4. ^ a b Gaston, Philander. Pioneer days of the little rural center of Clarkson [Columbiana County, Ohio, 1816-1873];portrayed by Philander Gaston (one of the oldest residents).
  5. ^ Croly, Herbert David (1912). Marcus Alonzo Hanna: his life and work. The Macmillan Company. p. 3. ISBN 9780598907844.
  6. ^ a b Rice, Charles Elmer (1905). A history of the Hanna family: Being a genealogy of the descendants of Thomas Hanna and Elizabeth (Henderson) Hanna, who emigrated to America in 1763 (Google eBook). A. Pim & son.
  7. ^ "Clarkson Post Office (historical)". Geographic Name Information System (GNIS). USGS. Retrieved February 26, 2011.
  8. ^ "89-Year Old Storekeeper Sets a Mark". Youngstown (Ohio) Vindicator. February 21, 1953.
  9. ^ "Kansas City Massacre—Charles Arthur "Pretty Boy" Floyd". Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Government. Retrieved February 26, 2011.
  10. ^ Burrough, Bryan (2009). Public Enemies: America's Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933-34. Penguin. ISBN 978-0-14-311586-1.
  11. ^ "Beaver Creek State Park". Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  12. ^ "C. V. Warrick, Claimed at 93, Rites Wednesday". The Evening Journal, Lisbon OH. February 11, 1957. Retrieved March 14, 2024.